Starting and stopping mechanism.



A. I. LITTLEPIELD.

STARTING AND STOPPING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1906.

I 1,048,840, Patented Dec.31,1912.

J2 VWTNESZSES. 60 M H ma UNITED STATES Pr t TENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTINE F. LITTLEFIELD, OF LYNN, MASS '.IHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON. II

JERSEY.

W JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW STARTING AND STOPIING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec. 31,1 912.

Application filed November 2, 1906. Serial No. 341,738

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUoUs'rixn l. Lrrrnn-FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the countyof Essex and Comn'ionwealth 0t lllassachusetts, have invented certainImprovements in Starting and Stopping Mechanisms, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating likeparts in the several figures.

. This invention relates to startingand stopping mechanisms and pertainsmore particularly to that type of mechanism wherein a clutchis'discngaged, at a predetermined stage in the cycle of operations of amachine, by a clutch-thrower the action of which is communicated to theclutch through appropriate transmission devices. Commonly, a machineemploying such mechauism is started by interrupting ett'ectivecommunication through the transmission devices so as to render theaction of the clutchthrower' ineffectual, thereby permitting a spring orthe like to put the clutch into engaging position; and the machine isstopped by retistablishing effective communication through thetransmission devices so that the .neXt action of the clutch-throwershall be transmitted to the clutch to disengage it. This type ofstarting and stopping mechanism is particularly convenient for use inconnect-ion'with machines which it is desired to stop with theiroperating parts always in a predetermined position; and in such use itis especially important that the machine be stopped promptly andaccurately at the proper time in order to preclude over-running beyondthe position desired for the operating parts when they come to rest.

This invention is designed to provide for stopping -a machine promptlyand accurately, by locking the transmission devices securely in positionwhen ett'ective communication through them to disengage the clutch hasbeen established, thereby prevent ing a temporary retraction of saiddevices, frequently experienced in mechanisms heretofore used, which islikely to interrupt communication again and allow the machine to overrunand injure stock which is being operated upon, besides leaving themachine parts in undesired positions. To this end the inventioncomprises the combination of a clutch a clutch-thrower and transmissiondevices, with locking means arranged to lock the transmission devices inposition to communicate the action of the clutchs thrower to the clutch.

As herein shown the transmission devices which are interposed betweenthe clutchthrower and the clutch include two connected links pivoted attheir outer ends respectively to the clutch-thrower cam lever and theclutch shitting lever. These links are adapted to be locked rigidly inan eti'ective transmitting position in which they are either insubstantial alinement or in which they are held in a slightly unalinedor broken position. For reasons which will be pointed out hereafter thelatter arrangement of the transmission links is to be preferred in mostcases. When it is desired to interrupt the etlcctive communicatioiithrough the transmission pieces or links they are unlocked and permittedto move, or are moved, farther out of alinement with each other.

That feature of the invention which consists in utilizing pivotedtransmission pieces held in an unali'ned position is of much importancein that only movement of slight extent and the application of littlepressure are required to move these pieces from their slightly unalinedtransmitting position into ineii'ective condition; This facilitatesready starting and stopping o't'lhe machine with little eti'ort on theoperators part which is most desirable, especially in eyeleting machinesor the like which must he started and stopped a great number of times ina days run.

One type of starting and stopping mechanism which has been usedheretofore is well illustrated in Letters Patent of the United States,No;672,05(3, dated April 16, 190i, and the present invention will bedescribed, for convenience, as embodied in mechanism employing a clutchand clutch-thrower;similar to those shown in said patent. Nothing hereincontained is to be construed. however, as limiting this invention, initsapplication, to use in connection with devicesshown in said patent orwith devices of like character, since the following detailed descriptionrelating to such devices treats of a preferred construction which isused. for purposes of exemplification only.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of a clutch and associated parts embodying this invention withthe transmission devices locked in effective position and the clutch,

disengaged. Fig. 2 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing thetransmlsslon devices unlocked and the clutch engaged for The frictionmember is axially movable on a shaft G'WhlCll may be conveniently thedriving shaft of the machine and is adapted to rotate only with saidshaft. The friction member has two oppositely disposed frusto conicalfriction surfaces, one of which, when the clutch is in engagingposition, fits into a correspondingly shaped concave friction surface onthe pulley 2, and the other of which contacts, when the clutch isdisengaged, with a rigid friction surface on the frame of the machinewhich serves as a brake to arrest the rotation of the friction memberand shaft. The friction member is moved back and forth axially ontheshaft through a collar 8 rigid with the-friction member and a shiftingarm 10 pivoted at 11 and engaged with said collar. A plunger 12 mountedin a recess in the frame of the machine is urgedforward by a spring 14so that the plunger is kept in cont-act with the lower end of theshifting arm. When unimpeded, said spring holds the shifting arm inposition to cause the clutch to engage, that is to cause. the frictionmember to engage the pulley 2. The action of said spring is opposed soas to move the shifting arm for disengaging the clutch through theagency of a clutch-thrower cam 16 on the shaft 6 and a cam lever 18pivoted at 19. The above described devices are substan tially similar tocorresponding parts shown in the patent previously referred .to and forfurther understanding of said devices and their operation, reference maybe had to said patent.

The action of the clutch-thrower 16 is communicated to the frictionmember 4 through transmission devices comprising the cam lever 18, atoggle link20, a second toggle link 22, and the shifting arm 10. When isinterriipted and until the toggle links are again brought intosubstantial alinement the spring 14 will hold the clutch in engagementto drive the shaft. The toggle link 20 is pivoted to the lower end ofthecam lever and the toggle link 22 is pivoted to the lower end of theshifting arm. A machine driven I by the shaft 6 is stopped by moving thetoggle links into substantial alinement so that the cam 16 may act todisengage the clutch through the rigid arm, thus constituted by thelinks. If the toggle links, are not held firmly at this time the impactof the cam 16 against the lever 18 is liable to break the toggle andpermit the machine to over-run. In order to prevent this defect and tomaintain effective communication between the cam 16 and the clutch, alockv is provided for the transmission devices. As shown in thedrawings, a lock 24 is pivotally connected to a finger 26 which isformed as a rigid extension of the togglelink 22. The lock cooperateswith a plate 28 which may be conveniently mounted upon the bench whichsupports the machine. The lock is so arranged that when it is in uprightlocking position, as shown in Fig. 1, it will bear v against the plate28 and hold the toggle links 20 and 22 rigidly in substantial alinement.When it is moved out of locking position by turning it on its pivot, asshown in Fig. 2, the toggle may be readily broken whereupon the spring llwill shift the arm 10 to put the clutch into engaging position. Inorder to provide for adjustment of the lock 24, said lock is rotatablymounted on an eccentric sleeve 30 havingahead 32. A bolt 34 extendsthrough said sleeve and isthreaded into the end of the finger 26. Byloosening the bolt the sleeve may be turned by means of its head so asto adjust the position of the lock relatively to the finger.

It is desirable to provide means for rendering effective and breakingthe toggle and also for locking and unlocking the transmission devices.For 'these purposesa preferred form of controller is shown comprising atreadle-rod 36 and an elevating spring 38 connected to the lock and to aconvenient portion of the frame of the machine. This controller governsboth the transmission devices and the lock. The upper end of thetreadle-rod 36 is attached to the upper end of the lock so that whensaid rod is depressed the lock will be rotated on the sleeve 30 from thelocking positionshown in Fig. 1 to the unlocking position shown in Fig.2.

The curved locking face of the lock is eccentric to its pivot and it isevident that as the lock'is turned,a portion having constantly adecreasing dimension is interposed between its pivot and the plate 28.The link 22 carries an adjustable stop 23, which abuts against the framewhen the toggle links are in locked position. This stop may be set sothat when the links are in locked position;

the pivot joining the two links will be slightly below the other pivotsof the toggle.

' When the stop is thus set, as soon as the broken and the shifting arm'10 operated.

' cont-roller t'or establishing'and-interruptingarm 10' as shown in Fig..2.

If desired the stop 23 may be set so as to bring the pivot joining thetwo links farther up, in which case the toggle links will remain inlocked position until unlocked. A stop 40 projectst'rom the finger2(t,so that when thelock has been rotated from looking position thelower rear portion thereof abuts against said stop thereby constitutingof the finger and lock a temporary rigid lever upon which thetreadlc-rod 36 acts to break the toggle. \Vhen the finger and lock havebeen depressed "far enough to break the toggle the spring 14 willoperate the shifting \Vhen the tre'adle-rod is released the elevatingspring 38 elevates the rod and rotates the lock 24 toward its lockingposition. A stop 42 is provided on the end of the finger 2G'with whichthe upper end of the treadle-rod engages to limit ,its upward movement.As the lock is rotated its lower end contacts with the plate 28 andthereupon the point of contact becomes a traveling fulcrum upon whichthe lock 24 turns to move the toggle links into alinement. This fulcrumtravels along the curved locking face of the lock which is arrangedeccentrically to its pivot so that the rotation of the lock about saidpivot will move the point of contact with the plate gradually fartherfrom said pivot: In this manner the toggle links are rendered effectiveautomatically through the action of the spring 38 when the treadle isreleased. When said links have been brought into substantial alinement,further motion is arrested by the stop 23 and at this time the lock isrigidly interposed between the toggle and the plate 28 so as to preventthe toggle being broken by any means until the .tock has been turnedagain from its locking position by depressing the treadle-rod.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower; transmission devicesfor communicating the action of the clutch-thrower to the clutch; a

ett'ective con'imunicatiol'i through the transmission devices; andlocking means which lock the transmission devices when the controllerhas established effective communication through them.

. 2. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination,a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging theclutch ;-transmission devices for communicating the action of theclutchthrower to the clutch; a controller for establishing andinterrupting ettective communication through the transmission devices;and a lock which cooperates with said controller to lock thetransmission devices when effective communication. has been establishedthrough them. I

3. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;clutch-engaging means; a clutch-thrower;transmission devices;lockingnneans for automatically locking the transmission devices ineffective position, said locking means 'being at all times in operativerelation with said transmission devices; and means for unlocking thetransmission devices.

4. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for en- 5 gaging the'elutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging theclutch; transmission devices between said clutch and said clutchthrower;

a controller for establishing and interrupting effective communicationthrough the 0 transmission devices; and a lock for the transmissiondevices operated by the con troller.

5. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutchhaving a mov- 9 able member; means for moving said member in onedirection; a clutch-thrower for moving said member in the opposite direction; transmission devices for communicating the action of theclutch-thrower to said movable member; and a lock. for the transmissiondevices, said lock being "at all times in operative relation with saidtransmission devices.

(3. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging said clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging saidclutch; transmission devices, including a toggle, for communicating theaction of the clutclrthrower to the clutch; a controller forestablishing and interrupting effective communication through thetransmission devices; and a lock for the transmission devices. i i

7. Starting and stopping mechanism ha,v- 11 ing, in combination, aclutch; means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengagingthe clutch; t 'ansmission devicesincluding a toggle; a controller forestablishing and interrupting ett'ective communi-- cation throughvthetransmission devices; and locking means arranged to lock said toggle ineffective condition.

8. Starting and stopping mechanism ha ving, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging theclutch; transmission devices including a toggle; and a controller whichmoves the links'of said toggle in opposite directlons for respectlvelyestablishing and in- 133 terrupting efi'ective communication through thetransmisslon devices; and locking means arranged to lock the toggle wheneffective communication has been established.

9. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging theclutch; transmission devices including toggle; locking means arranged tolock said toggle in effective condition; and a controller forestablishing and interrupting efiective communication through thetransmission devices, said controller being gaging the clutch;transmission devices for communicating the action of the clutchthrowerto the clutch; a movable lock arranged to be moved out of lockingposition when communication through the transmission devices isinterrupted; and means for moving said lock into locking position andestablishing communication through the transmission devices. 1

"-;12. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging theclutch; transmission devices including a toggle; a rigid finger carriedby a link of said toggle; a movable lock, carried by said finger,arranged to lock said toggle when its parts occupy a predeterminedeifective relation; means for moving said lock out of locking positionand at the same time breaking said toggle; and means for moving saidlook into locking position and at the same time moving the parts of thetoggle into said predetermined effective relation.

13. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for disengaging theclutch transmission devices for com municating the action of theclutchthrower to the clutch; a lock for the transmission devices; asupport upon which said lock is movably mounted; and means for causingsaid lock and support to act as a rigid lever to interrupt effectivecommunication through the transmission devices.

14. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means for engaging the clutch; a clutch-thrower for.

- disengaging the clutch; transmission devices including a toggle; arigid finger carried by a link of said toggle; a movable lock, carriedbyv said finger, arranged to lock said toggle when it is alined; meansfor moving said lock out-of locking position; and means for causing saidlock a'ndfinger to act as a rigid lever to break the teggle.

' 15. Starting and stopping Y mechanism having in combination a clutch,a clutch thrower, and a transmission device for transmitting motion fromthe clutch thrower to the clutch, said transmission device comprisingmembers arranged to be moved by the operator into an angular relation toeach other and means which may be adjusted for alining said members andpositively maintaining such alinement.

16. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch, aclutch thrower, a transmission device including toggle links locatedintermediate of said clutch thrower and clutch, and an adjustablymounted lock arranged to lock said toggle in effective condition.

17. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch;means tending normally to engage the clutch; an intermittently actingcam for throwing the clutch; links interposed between said cam andclutch, one of said links being so arranged as to receive at all timesthe intermittent motion from said cam; means under the control of theoperator for arranging said links so that the motion \of the cam shallbe effective to overcome the action of the clutch engaging means; and alocking device for preventing disarrangement of said links.

18. Mechanism of the class described having, in combination, anautomatically acting clutch thrower, a clutch, transmission devicesarranged between the clutch thrower and clutch, a lock for holding saiddevices in effective condition, and atreadle rod arranged to act uponthe lock first to unlock the transmission devices and then positively tomove the transmission devices into ineffective position.

v 19. Starting'and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch,clutch-engaging means, a clutch-throWer, transmission means including atog le, and means for locking said toggle in a broken condition totransmit the action of the clutch-thrower to the clutch.

20. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch, aclutchthrower, and transmission means" between said clutch-throvver andclutch: including toggle links held rigidly in a broken condition.

21. Starting and stopping mechanism having in combination, a clutch, a'clutchthrovver, transmission means between said clutch-thrower andclutch including toggle links, and means for holding said toggle linksin a broken condition to transmit the action of the clutch-thrower tothe clutch.

22; Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch, aclutch-. thrower, transmission means including pivoted pieces, means forholding said pieces in an unalined condition to transmit the action ofthe clutch-thrower to the clutch, and means for moving the pieces into afurther unalined-position tointerrupt the effective communicationthrough the transmission means.

23. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch, aclutchthr'ower, transmission means including pivoted pieces, and meansacting at all times to prevent said pivoted pieces from being broughtinto alinement.

24. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch, aclutchthrower, transmission means including piv-' oted pieces, meansacting at all times to prevent sa d pivoted pieces from being broughtinto alinement, and means for interrupting the efiective communicationthrough the transmission pieces.

25. Mechanism of the class described havfive cents each, byaddressingthe Washington, -13. 0.

ing, in combination, an oscillatory cam leven, a clutch shifting lever,toggle links extending between said levers, said links being held 1 in abroken condition to transmit the motion of one lever to the other, andyielding means subjectin said links to endwise pressure and tendlng,when the links are released, to

break the toggle links still further and move i the clutch shiftinglever.

26. Starting and stopping mechanism having, in combination, a clutch, aclutchthrower, transmission pieces between said clutch-thrower andclutch held rigidly in unalined condition to transmit movement from theclutch-thrower to the clutch, manually operated means for interruptingeffective communication through said pieces, and

automatic means for returning said pieces to their transmittingcondition.

In testimony whereofy I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

AUGUSTINE F. LITTLEFIELD.

Witnessesi JOHN H. BUGKMAN, FREDERICK L. EDMANUS.

Commission'ci of Patents.

